Chemicals in everyday products may harm women’s fertility, trigger early menopause

By Sharyl Attkisson | June 23, 2025 

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — found in everyday plastics, personal care items, and pesticides — may be playing a major role in the growing fertility crisis among women, according to a new review of more than 250 studies published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology.

The chemicals interfere with natural hormones and have been linked to reduced egg supply, early menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and lower success rates with fertility treatments like IVF. They may also trigger abnormal puberty timing in girls, either early or delayed.

Researchers say EDCs can speed up egg loss, disrupt ovarian development, and damage follicles — which could lead to permanent reproductive harm. Exposure in the womb may be especially dangerous, disrupting development of key hormone systems and increasing the risk of infertility later in life.

“This review highlights some critical processes that are essential to female reproductive health,” researchers wrote, “and presents compelling evidence that EDCs disrupt ovarian development and function.”

A major concern is PCOS, the most common hormone disorder in women. Studies cited in the review found women with PCOS had higher blood levels of EDCs, particularly PFAS — chemicals often used in non-stick cookware and food packaging. A U.S. study even found a strong link between PFAS and increased PCOS risk in women seeking fertility treatment.

Some chemicals, like BPA and phthalates, were also found in the fluid surrounding developing eggs. Higher levels were tied to fewer mature eggs, lower fertilization rates, and weaker responses to fertility drugs.

Meanwhile, exposure to EDCs in the womb — like the now-banned drug DES — has been associated with shorter reproductive lifespans and earlier menopause. One study showed that women with the highest exposure to 111 different EDCs began menopause four years earlier than women with the lowest.

Despite these alarming findings, researchers admit that many effects take years to appear, making it hard to draw direct causal links in humans. But they say that’s no excuse for inaction.

“Remaining knowledge gaps and ongoing discussions should not negate the urgency to act,” they wrote, calling for stronger protections and policies to limit exposure — starting from early development.